Just joined the site, just having a new kitchen fitted and I thought "Who better to ask for advice?"

So, what would peoples' top tips be for essentials in their own kitchen?

Looking forward to your replies!

Rob

I think I would struggle to manage without my Magic Bullet Blender. As an all in one unit (grate, chop, blitz etc) its hard to beat.

Raw ingredients to cooked healthy soup in minutes, cooked in the microwave in the cup you can eat it from - takes some beating ;o)

They can be picked up on eBay for abou £30 too.

Hope this helps.

Carl.

A cooker is quite useful, oh... and a fridge!

Rice cooker, so usefull,it just does the job every time no problem no hassele
Slow cooker, brill winter/summer throw it all in and go do your own thing
ice cream maker, need I say more
set of decent knifes
These are the things I would miss the most

Well, what I've got is: a cooker/hob, fridge/freezer, washing machine, small dishwasher, a breadmaker and a toaster - and I get by just fine with those. I bought a set of Le Creuset casseroles about 10 years ago, which have been used 1000s of times and still look good as new.

On my imaginary list would be a juicer (although I've got one of the heavy handheld metal Mexican pressers, which is perfectly adequate for citrus fruits, like this: [link] and perhaps a food mixer.

I'm a bit of a 'get-byer' in the kitchen I think! Have you got your eye on anything in particular so far?

Thanks for the replies.

I've got a few bits and pieces that I've collected the last couple of years, along with new hob/oven, dishwasher and washer/dryer. Also have a Braun Multi Whizz thing (great for ice in Bombay G&Ts), a George grill - who doesn't - and my favourite Gaggia Classico Espresso machine.

I've seen the Magic Bullet on tv and was tempted, along with a power juicer I'm getting married next year so I'm planning ahead with gift ideas........ providing I can resist buying anything before then. I had my eye on Le Creuset stuff, and I need a new set of GOOD knives.

Open to any ideas!

I was mulling this over on the tube last night, mentally rummaging round my kitchen! Two other purchases I now wouldn't like to be without are a Brita water jug, and a Brita kettle, which has a reservoir / water filter incorporated in it. It's a bit tricky to use and I have to wait for the water to trickle through before boiling, but it means scum-free tea - hurrah!

Congrats on your fortcoming wedding btw - I'm sure we can help you out further with a list!

apart from obvious cooker, washing machine and fridge! i would go for george forman grill, decent toaster, microwave, brita filter jug, set of decent knives and pans, a good caserole dish you can also put on top of the oven, good tin opener, hand blender, pestle and mortar, good quality chopping board, set of decent wine glasses, colindar, . I also like my set of chinese crockery and balti set - good for entertaining

Hi Rob
Just had my kitchen refitted and as well as the stuff above i would say plenty of good plastic containers for storage. The knives i have which i love are some very old sabatier ones which are over 20years old and my global knives of which i buy one every three or four months when i can afford it. also vital is a good sharpener. oh,and if you've got space for at least one wine rack go for it, they fit 1.5l bottles of mineral water and various oils and vinegars perfectly! also a small undercounter cupboard with pull out baskets instead of static shelving is brilliant for tins and herbs/spices et.

The best thing that was made in my kitchen when it was refitted was the walk-in pantry, all the shelving in all different depths included inside for all my implements, massive of food storage and the drinks fridge underneath.

A cheese grater. Not the standard madolin type, but the clamp one, with the hand rotating drum. No cutting your fingers and there is very little waste. Similar to this > [link]

Other than that a small set of scales set. Ours has a bowl which inverts to fit neatly onto the scales, for easy storage. Pic without the bowl > [link]

What do you recommend as a good knife sharpener Maxine? Hubby can sharpen mine with a steel but I just can't get the hang of it. Rob, I agree with most of the above except I don't have and don't need a microwave. But I need a microplane grater for nearly every meal. My measuring jug and my potato ricer are in constant use too. I have an ice cream maker and love it and use it a lot, and a juicer which I use less (pain to clean up). Could not cope without my Braun Multipractic and my food processor which I bought a citrus juicer attachment for.

The one thing that I cannot bear to be without when I am cooking is a large glass of red wine - it is an absolute must!Therefore you must ensure that you have a decent wine rack and that it is kept full at all times. Best wishes for your forthcoming wedding.

Thanks for the link to the grater way2good, always wanted metal version.

The one thing I couldn't live without in the kitchen would be my electric wok, everyone who sees it remarks on it, but as for juicers, george forman thingys, these just seem to be dust collectors get used once or twice, then we try and find a place to store them, just-in-case.

Patrick - does the electric wok really get hot enough to stir fry properly? I've always wondered but couldn't see how it would.

AutumnHaze, the chantry knife sharpener is excellent if you can't get used to a steel. It has two cross over 'steels' inside crossing at exactly the right angle for perfectly sharpening your knives. I would definitely recommend it.

Rob - Le Creuset is obviously an excellent make, but I have the Meyer Anolon Advanced pans - they are sooooo wonderful I kiss them when returning them to the cupboard after use! (Get a life flaky)

Patrick, your wrong! i use my juicer every day, best thing i ever bought! Debbies spot on too, must have some wine, and congrats on your wedding!

Ok, the juicer's the one thing I don't use, thankfully it was a freebie. The wok does get hot enough, there's 6 heat settings to choose from, I use setting 4 for cooking.

I had a new kitchen a few years back & was persuaded to have a long sleek top - at the expense of a decent size fridge. I`m always packing & pushing things in place. Make sure of a decent size fridge, & yes a wine rack is essential.

Wow. Now that's a lot of replies! Thanks all.

I have the decent fridge/freezer - one of the few things that stayed - and the new kitchen (finished today ) has a....... built in wine rack. Woo-hoo!

I always fancied the Microplane graters, and was thinking about the Brita kettle. I use filtered water in the Gaggia, but does it really make a difference to tea? I don't drink the stuff, but my fiancee does.

I tried a few knives inc Henkels and Wustoff but Global just felt 'right'. I went with a 27cm forged Chef knife, which seems the nuts. Must resist buying any more before next year!

I also need a new toaster. I like the look of the Dualit one, but are they all show? Anyone got experiences of them?

Thanks again

If you haven't already got one, how about a cat.Nothing makes a kitchen look more homely than a sleeping cat on a comfortable chair.

Why not have a filterd water tap fitted, inexpensive and easy to fit, pure water on tap, ask your local plumbers shop

Rob2969. Have you talked to your intended about this here new kitchen? I assumed both of you will use it, how about some input from her eh? Those "Globals" aren't going to be very good if she happened to be a Henkels woman. Oh you green uns!

As Rob has said he is looking for wedding present list ideas it would be difficult to do that without his intended having a say don't you think todai?

Rob I have really enjoyed reading this thread and feeling the excitement you express over your new kitchen and your forhcoming marriage. Wonderful thread.

Has anyone mentioned kichen scales? I think that although not used as often as they used to be, good acurate ones are very important in cake making.

I have found the latest gadget is THE BULLET, got it from Sky's Q.V.C tis wonderful
from gadget girl